Disaster Assistance Update - More Than $3 Million In Federal Grants Disbursed
Release Date: July 7, 2003
Release Number: 1474-26
» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides
Charleston, WV -- State, federal and local officials and voluntary agencies continue to help West Virginians who were affected by the severe storms, flooding, and landslides that began on June 11. To date, more than $3 million in disaster grants has been issued to residents to help meet their most basic disaster-recovery needs.
Recovery services summary at close of business Sunday, July 6:
- More than 2,400 individuals have called FEMA's toll-free teleregistration number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY number 1-800-462-7585. Applications are taken by phone seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., until further notice.
- More than $3.2 million has been disbursed by FEMA to help disaster-affected West Virginians.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued 1,203 applications to homeowners and 227 applications to businesses and has approved a total of $410,600 in low-interest, disaster loans.
- Disaster Recovery Centers in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Logan, and Mason have assisted more than 400 visitors to date. The Boone County DRC will close today at 7 p.m. Centers in Berkeley and Putnam will open this week. Those affected by the disaster are encouraged to visit one of the centers to talk face-to-face with a recovery specialist and to check the status of their applications. To find the nearest center, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA.
- People living or working in the 12 disaster-declared counties whose jobs have been affected by recent severe storms may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Claims must be filed with local unemployment offices by July 25, 2003 for persons living or working in the following counties: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne. For those who reside or work in Berkeley, Lincoln and Wyoming counties, the application deadline is July 31, 2003.
Calling the FEMA toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), is the necessary first step in applying for disaster assistance.
The following is a list of West Virginia counties currently designated as federal disaster areas, along with the number of applications for disaster assistance received to date per county.
| Disaster Counties | Total Applications Received |
|---|---|
| Berkeley | 56 |
| Boone | 196 |
| Cabell | 131 |
| Kanawha | 875 |
| Lincoln | 58 |
| Logan | 408 |
| Mason | 96 |
| McDowell | 116 |
| Mingo | 205 |
| Putnam | 67 |
| Wayne | 112 |
| Wyoming | 93 |
| TOTAL | 2,413 |
Last Modified: Tuesday, 08-Jul-2003 08:24:08